Alone

After seeing a slew of bad films, when a good film comes along it hits you like nothing else. Alone is one of these movies. Alone is a 2007 Thai horror film directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. The film centers around a young woman named Pim who has become estranged from her family after unknown circumstances cause her twin sisters death. We also find out that they were conjoined, sharing many traits and many heartwarming experiences.

Alone is a beautifully made film. I want to praise this as much as possible. The first breathtaking charm about this movie is the cinematography. There are multiple flashbacks of Pim and her sister, Ploy and of Pim and her current boyfriend. It is shot so beautifully, it’s like looking into the sepia past within a photo album.

The setting was dark, moody and ominous. It was perfect, giving the audience as much tension as there should be in this type of a film. It greatly illustrated the mystery that surrounded Pim and her sister Ploy. The music also added to the creepy atmosphere, peaking at the right moments and giving tension to a situation when it was already exploding with tension.

The overall story of Alone is genuinely creepy and touching at the same time. Throughout the movie Pim’s relationship is greatly touched on with her sister. We see their closeness, their bonds and eventually their deteriorating relationship. Ultimately all the scenes are touching and relatable. The story grabs you and doesn’t let go. Alone isn’t just another horror movie, the scenes and story provoke strong emotions. The relationship between the two sisters will make you want to cry.

Towards the end of the film it is revealed how Ploy dies. There is also, like many other films within the Asian horror style, a twist. This one is well deserved and makes the movie great. It’s not cliché, it’s not expected at all, and it makes sense. Accompanying the realized twist are flashbacks to the sisters and their relationships. Everything should be clear. You’ll now know why Pim is estranged from her family, find out what is truly haunting her and her boyfriend and everything comes together in one neat little package.

The only complaint about the movie is the translations for the subtitles. Yes, there are subtitles. Some of the language winds up not making sense because something was lost in translation. It’s not too horrible but it is a slight annoyance.

Alone is a remarkable film that will scare you, raise the hair on the back of your neck and make you really feel for the characters. You’ll want to see them succeed and you’ll wonder what’s happening to Pim as these strange circumstances surrounding her sister and family arise. Alone is a beautifully made film, full of tension and suspense. It is worth a watch.

4 ½ stars out of 5.